Tempting paczki, Mardi Gras fun on tap for Fat Tuesday WITH VIDEO

John Corradi, owner, of Rock on Third in Royal Oak, and bartender Alexa Neff prepare for "Bourbon Street" to meet "Main Street" in advance of Royal Oak's Mardi Gras Music Festival. Many restaurants will be offering a New Orleans-style menu Tuesday.

When Margaret Wojciechowski walked into the American Polish Cultural Center in Troy Monday, she knew something was different.

"It smelled like paczki," said Wojciechowski, the center's general manager.

"It's a delicious smell. It makes it so difficult not to have one."

Many people today will succumb to that temptation as the sugary pastries that resemble an oversized jelly donut are celebrated as part of Fat Tuesday, the day before Lent begins.

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Watch a report on the Fat Tuesday festivities during today's News at Noon.

For Christians, Lent -- the 40-day period of fasting and prayer before Easter -- represents the time Jesus Christ spent in the desert and many abstain from eating sweets or other foods during the time of Lent.

In Rochester, David Lee will be open for business at Knapp's Donuts at 3:30 a.m. as customers begin streaming in for fresh paczki.

"I like custard," said Lee, who admitted he had indulged. "I'm very full."

Paczkis cost $1.55 each or $15.50 a dozen. "We'll sell until we run out," said Lee.

In Troy, Wojciechowski said the paczki sold at the center are from a Detroit bakery that provides the treats to locations such as the Polish center.

"They make the dough with grain alcohol and it doesn't absorb that much fat," she said.

"These paczki have less calories than everyday donuts. You have to know how to make it. The grocery store paczkis don't taste close to the real things."

While most people choose custard, the center will offer Wojciechowski's favorite flavor -- hibiscus, which tastes like a wild rose, said center employees.

"In Poland the most common paczki are hibiscus and prune," she said.

She looks forward to Fat Tuesday's sweet tradition.

"It's once a year and part of our culture," she said.

"Even though it's a lot of work, it's fun and we enjoy it."

Beads, brews and music

For some nighttime fun tonight people are invited to party at Royal Oak's 9th annual Mardi Gras Music Festival starting at 5 p.m.

Mardi Gras means Fat Tuesday in French.

Eleven bars plan to offer live music and drink specials. Guests pay $10 to be able to ride the shuttle around town, and enter participating bars without paying a cover charge, said Carrie O'Neill, Rock on Third general manager and president of the Royal Oak Restaurant Association.

"People can get Hurricanes at every bar," she said. Hurricanes, sweet alcoholic drinks created with lime juice, passion fruit syrup and rum, are famous in New Orleans, considered by many to be Mardi Gras central.

Last year, 500 people bought tickets to take part in Royal Oak's party. Proceeds are given to a local charity, which this year is the Royal Oak Animal Shelter. People will also be entered to win a free trip to New Orleans.

Royal Oak locations taking part in Mardi Gras Music Festival are The Rock on 3rd, The Oxford Inn, Woody's, Oak City Grille, Gemmayze, Fifth Avenue, Star Lanes Emagine, O'Tooles, Pronto and BlackFinn.

Another draw will be the Michigan-MSU men's basketball game, which starts at 9 p.m. and will air on ESPN.